2009 BMW 3 Series Review & Road Test
March 5, 2009 by Karl Peskett
2009 BMW 325i Review and Road Test
Two cylinders more means two thumbs up
Model Tested:
- 2009 BMW 325i automatic – $75,900 RRP
Options:
- Electric sunroof – glass – $2920
- Metallic paint (Blue Water) – $1700
- BMW light-alloy wheels star spoke 286 with mixed run-flat safety tyres, 17-inch with 225/45 R17, 255/40 R17 – $1000
- Interior Trim (Walnut Light) – No Cost Option
Chassis balance, steering feel, styling, quality, glorious engine
Ride still not right, expensive
CarAdvice Rating: 
I was reading an article in a magazine a few weeks ago that talked about class distinction. The author flew on an airline that was completely first class. In other words, no economy, and no business class.
There were the usual niceties like champagne on arrival, hors d’oeuvres, beautiful meals, and affable hostesses. Sounds pretty good, but for some reason, he was disappointed.
The reason, well there was no one to look down upon. No passengers to peer through the curtain at, and think “I’ve made it. Yeah, you guys are all jealous.” He wanted to be revered, and to be thought of as special by someone else.
Which brings me to the BMW 3 Series range. There always has to be a base model, I suppose, so other models in the collection look better.
On what planet does a shiny plastic faux wood interior equal class and luxury? Oh that’s right … 1970s world ….
325i, 335i and M3 is where the 3 Series shows how good it really is. This is what, $80K? I’d probably also get the Professional Navigation system option, with full HD Television on board, and Logic 7 sound with 14 speakers. A colleague’s 335i has these, and they’re brilliant. I was a fan of the old I-drive, and the new version is even better. I like the new rear with LED’s, however don’t like the crease lines on the bonnet nor the huge mirrors.
Interesting that one could also purchase the rep special Ford FPV GT E ABCDEFG for $78K. With “luxury” features like power windows, single seat (drivers) seat electrical adjustment, and a 6 speaker audio system from the XT Falcon, the car must be an “executive express” ay!!
Blindfreddy most manufacturers use faux wood in their interiors these days,whats your point ?
You want to sit in a formal lounge room then stay at home, you want a drivers car then buy a BMW !
Thanks Karl,great review fantastic car !
IMHO BMW still make the best 6 cylinder engines in the world. There is nothing like the sound of a BMW straight 6 howling in the upper registers. It makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up! It sounds even better IMHO than many V8s.
If only they had a good looking body to wrap around that chassis and interior.
I hate the look of the current 3 series sedans, especially the rear end which has no class or style! Coupe is a different story
Audi A4 a much better value option…
I agree with Alec. If only it looked better, I’d happily own one.
Blindfreddy… the “shiny plastic faux wood interior” is actually real wood.
Quote from above report: “It’s nice to sometimes look down on those below you, however, I prefer to look in my rear vision mirror at those left in my dust.”
I am surprised to see such blatant arrogance on display for all to see. I hope the economic recession during 2009 will humble such arrogant people by sending them broke.
And anyway if you don’t like the wood (BTW. I am alergic to wood in cars – LOL…), there are other choices unlike say with a Lexus when you get what you are given and that is it…
Ummm, there are choices of interior colours in Lexus mate, just like in the BMW. There are not as many options however, as they are already fitted with them. I’d rather get it fitted with the car at the rrp price, than having to pay for it seperately. That’s the downside of BMW, 100s of options, at a premium price.
I know you have some choice in a Lexus but not much at all.
I would rather pay to get what I want and not be stuck with that hideous Lexus glossy wood thanks…
You pay a high price to customise your car (BMW/Merc/Audi/Volvo etc) but at the end of the day it makes you feel special as it is exactly as you wanted it. Just depends how passionate/pedantic you are. I am one of those people and you aren’t but can’t we all get along ?
Let me re-phrase what I wrote above. All the options you want to ‘customise’ your beemer with, are already fitted in the lexus as standard equipment. Hence the lack of options. If you want to “feel special” by choosing to have less equipment in your car, then I guess that’s your choice lol!
And last time I checked, the Lexus wood and BMW wood looked exactly the same. And I own(ed) both :)
Yawn…
All the options you can get in a BMW aren’t standard in a Lexus at all. Have a look at the listings.
I don’t care if the Lexus/BMW woods look the same, the thing is that if you get a Lexus you have to get the wood but in a BMW etc, you have a choice of wood, aluminium, gloss plastic or whatever.
As I said, you are the sort of person who accepts a prebuilt solution whereas I (and there are many others out there) like to have exactly want we want and makers like BMW etc provide this. Eg. You want black and not grey headlining ? – BMW can do this for you.
So what if it costs more ? That would be my choice. At the end of the day that is why a Lexus is cheaper…
Won’t buy one. Looks like a 320 with 80K price tag. What were the germans thinking??
You’re missing the point NotTheStig. You have to pay extra to get something that comes as standard in the other one. I just went through the BMW options list, one by one, the following are standard on the IS:
4500 for Innovations pacakge, 1900 for active cruise control, 2860 for active steering, 1700 for mettalic paint, 3K for sunroof, 1K for an alarm, 1400 for comfort access system, 750 for headlight washers, 2200 for bi-xenons, 920 for adaptive hedlights, 510 for foldable mirrors, 620 for rear parking sensors, 700 for electrochromatic mirrors, 2.5K for speaker upgrade, 7K for satnav package and so on. Can’t be bothered typing the whole list out.
Why not get more than you want, for less? Makes absolutely no sense!
Plus, you do get a choice of type of woodgrain, despite what you claim.
The only options that aren’t standard are the moonroof and the satnav on the base model Prestige, which isn’t the direct competitor of 325i anyway. The Sports Luxury version, which sits near that price bracket, has no options, but is fully loaded with all of the equipment you gotta pay extra for in the beemer. And whooptie doo, black headlining. The money you save on the IS, you can take it and get it done aftermket somewhere else, and then buy some second car with your spare cash left over haha. Although it would probably be worth asking about it at the dealer, maybe they can do it. I’ve never been fussed about black headlining.
Only someone who couldn’t afford one would think it was too expensive…
Dan said: “You have to pay extra to get something that comes as standard in the other one.”
Of course, mate. One is a BMW, the other is a Toyota. If they were the same price, no one would buy the Toyota.
Considering its about as quick as a standard 6 cylinder commodore or falcon, i doubt its going to leave much in its rear-view mirror…
IMO i would never even consider buying a Lexus. They are considered the poor mans luxury car, a joke in high society. Comparing a BMW to a Lexus is like comparing bottled wine to cask. Pease, don’t even try……..
I’ve seen a 320i once with M badges. Kind of like putting HSV badges on a 6 pack commodore haha. Anyone who buys these cars for performance, obviously has set their bar too low. 330i would be the bare minimum to be considered in any way as performance, in the 3 series range.
Still a nice car, if it only had good looks *sigh*
“a joke in high society”
JustACustomer, you know the bigger joke are the people who buy a 320i thinking they now belong to ‘high society’. What does a car have to do with it? LOL!
I know a few very well off people with a Lexus in their garage, including certain B grade Perth celebrities, who no one actually makes any jokes about, so you certainly aren’t accurate with your comments there. In fact, quite ignorant to tell you the truth mate.
I drove a Toyota once with Lexus badges. Hard to compare pedigree and a mutt with a new hair cut. BMW has a racing history that comes standard with the badge, it screams i am a connoisseur of motoring. Lexus has no story to tell, no history to be proud of, its fake and empty.
Well, Dan, get out there and tell everyone why they should buy a Lexus not a BMW etc and you won’t make one iota of difference to the sales figures.
A BMW drives and handles like a BMW.
A Lexus is a tarted up appliance for people who want bells, whistles and don’t care how a car drives.
Look, you don’t get it, not me. No real car lover would drive a Lexus. I guess you buy a cheap no name Plasma TV as well and say that is superior to a Sony etc. too ?
(and no, I am not affiliated in any way with BMW)
Dan, just because some loser celebrities drive a Lexus, you think they are superior ? LOL…
That is the end of my comments on this matter as clearly you have no idea.
Honda has racing history also, you don’t see them crapping on about it when they try to sell you a Honda Jazz do you? 320i is a joke. Nothing racing or performance in it what so ever. This is NOT a performance car mate, no matter how BMW marketing dept tells you. Standard with the badge? I just pissed myself laughing mate. Sure, believe what you want. I’ll beat your “standard with the badge” performance 320i with my Suzuki Swift or similar haha.
NotTheStig, you are wrong on so many levels. I don’t care who outsells who, coz frankly, I don’t give a toss. I’ve own(ed) both. Only that I am not blinded by badge alone, and I feel free to critisize either side, as I please, if I see the need to. Initially I merely stated about how overpriced BMW options are, and you seemed to disagree, despite plain facts being shown to you. I am a car enthusiast myself, had heaps of nice cars, still do, and compete in amateur motorsport (drift). Yet I drive a lexus as a daily. So that automatically makes me a non car lover does it? Ahh, the ignorance, plenty of it on here isn’t it?
P.S. I got a 50″ Samsung 1080p TV. No non-brand name LG crap in my house thanks.
“Dan, just because some loser celebrities drive a Lexus, you think they are superior ?”
So… because some Joe Bloggs drives a 320i, you think they are superior higher class? It was simply a response to your retarded statement of “joke in high society” LOL!
He’s a well known and respected sports presenter for channel 7, for the last 20 or so years if not more. Thought I’ll mention that as an example.
Being at the Lexus of Perth grand opening of new dealership, I could notice heaps of various high society people there. Goes right against what you have said.
“clearly you have no idea.”
I’ve been on ‘both sides of the camp’. You haven’t. Clearly you’re the one lacking any idea.
P.S. I got a 50″ Samsung 1080p TV. No non-brand name LG crap in my house thanks.
HA HA, both are Korean :)
Nothing wrong with Korean TVs mate. See, as opposed to some people (no need to mention names, it’s obvious), I don’t wear blinkers.
Sorry, LG is crap, forgot to add that in haha.
Its all about power to weight in BMWs thats where the driver excitement comes from,their engines and the general set up of the car through their chassis’s makes them masters at what they do.
Karl clearly enjoyed the car .
Oh and they dont do a 330i anymore Dan,they do a kick arse 335i …………..a 3.0 litre inline 6……….
As I said in another topic to do with Toyotas:
Toyota tend to design and build their car in “sections” – Sure they may have a good engine or a good gearbox or whatever.. But they very rarely build a car where the gearbox or the suspension or the brakes is of the same quality as the engine and is unable to handle the power
Whereas at BMW the designers and engineers appear to work more closely wth eachother and they build a car with an awesome [international award winning] engine with an equally impressive gearbox along with suspension and brakes that can do the job.. the set up is just right
Which is why to most car enthusiasts prefer BMWs because they are more of a complete package.. It just feels that much better when everything works together – seemlessly
Okay then Dan – in relation to the IS-F… are visits to the Chiropractor Optional or Standard? .. given that they have forgotten to include a Suspension System
If anyone either buys or follows a particular make of car because a so called celebrity happens to own/drive one is a truly shallow individual indeed.. they obviously don’t realise that in most cases the stars don’t actually pay for the car.. but its given to them for “endorsing” the “?”
Yet I doubt that if they had the choice they probably wouldn’t buy the “?” at all
I mean John Laws for instance endorsed Toyota for years but he never actually had one in his Garage..
Infact when you saw him on TV leaving court during the “cash for comments” case he was often seen in either his Aston Martin or Porsche
‘Whereas at BMW the designers and engineers appear to work more closely wth eachother and they build a car with an awesome [international award winning] engine with an equally impressive gearbox along with suspension and brakes that can do the job.. the set up is just right’
You are kidding right? After all of the grief the 320i has copped on this site, the one series hatchbacks and the early three series compact, you still claim that BMW design a more ‘complete’ package.
The 320i is still a good car for what it is Steve ,there was only one reason the 320 thread got out of hand and its the same reason that this thread is being over run with Lexus crap!
3 Series compact……yeah well everyone makes a mistake,the one series ……….nothing wrong with them! Especially the Coupe ,the 135i is a GREAT car!
BMW set out to own the Luxury car market and they have ,a few mistakes along the way are expected!
I have a framed picture on my wall in the office that says “‘Its not just how fast you go,its how you go fast.” Yep its on the new M3 Coupe …………..
Welcome back Dan! (sarcasm).
Not that finding out the rubbish you own isn’t interesting and all but no one gives a stuff. This is a car blog not a TV blog.
Do we seriously have to find out everything you own from Toyotas to TVs.
In terms of performance and handling yes… one main reason is because unlike the Yaris-Corolla the 1 Series [like virtually all BMWs] is RWD.
Which means when pushed hard the car is more evenly balanced givng the driver more confidence as s/he is able to maintain control alot easier.
In terms of looks – yes… because whilst some may think the 1 series may be alittle odd looking its lines are more naturally flowing than that of Yaris-Corolla. Not only that BMWs are more distinctive they grab your attention because [overall] they look so good. Whereas the Corolla-Yaris look like every other “econobox”.
I mean the current Camry looks like its been ploughed into a wall before it leaves the factory.
The only reason that Toyota have made changes to the look of the Yaris-Corolla; not to mention offer more features etc is because cars such as the Mazda2 the Ford Fiesta VW Golf and even the Hyundai i30 have raised the bar.. in terms of looks performance and value for money etc.
Cars that Toyota considered weren’t a threat to the Corolla but now find themselves playing catch up in an anttempt to try and keep its position as the #1 hatchback
Very true wheelnut, now that the corolla isn’t the no.1 selling small car in australia they are gonna have to try a lot harder than just offer heavy discounts on unsold stock. I guess it is just reality sinking in to the public. Now that buyers can see Toyota for what it is, it will be interesting to see what toyota will do to lure customers once again.
The other thing that makes BMW better is well look at the 3 series for example – in the one model range you have a coupe a sedan a cabriolet a wagon and a cross over.. look pretty much the same are derived from the same platform [with the exception of the M3] and all build on the features and characteristics of other models in the same series.
Whereas in Toyota you have the Corolla hatch and sedan and thats about it.
so much more veratiltiy flexibility and even practicality in a Beemer
Mind you.. could you imagine what a convertible Camry would look like?
I appreciate the general dislike for everything Toyota, but why compare $50k plus BMW’s with $15K – $25 Toyota’s? I also don’t know if anyone who supports BMW’s should really be throwing stones about another cars looks. I wouldn’t be calling many BMW’s the supermodels of the automotive world.
In case you ask, I had an 86 Twin Cam Corolla. Awesome car, but Toyota seemed to lose their way with sporty cars not too long after.
I wasn’t comparing a Corola with a 3 series perse.. given that the 3 series and the Corolla are the most popular cars from BMW and Toyota
I decided to use them as examples inorder to illustrate how the two car companies go about designing developing and building their cars.. and the impact they have on the end product in terms of looks handling and performance etc.
As they say the destination may be the same but how you get there can be a completely different experience – depending upon where you start from and the decisions you make along the way
it worked – awaiting moderation.
As for the drive – great reoport. Obviously outguns the 320 by a margin. Personally I don’t mind the wood and prefer it over large swaves of cold aluminium (aka 335d the boss had). My reall problem with the 3 series is the lack of rear leg room for such a large car. A colleague has one and for an adult entering and ergressing the rear and staying there for any length of time it’s awkward.
Don’t you think that the markets that the two cars are aimed at are completely different? People who buy are corolla are after a cheap and reliable car with good interior room. A front wheel drive car offers better packaging benefits than a rear wheel drive car, hence the corolla is FWD.
BMW 3 series are aimed at people who can afford a more expensive car and are after the handling benefits of rear wheel drive, even if they never use it.
Therefore, as for a 3 series and Corolla both being cars with four wheels, yes they are the same ‘destination’. But the cars are aimed at different markets, so I would argue they have different ‘destinations’.
wow -kick off a comment at the start of the day and 14hours later there are 50 comments. What is it about beemers that is always so divisive?
I stand corrected if the wood in a beemer trim is real and not faux. I was really just trying to say that I find the bmw interior dated (wood or metallic or whatever option you use) and the shiny wood look just makes me want to scream. I’d pick a matte metallic or piano black any day. But it is the whole shape I hate, not just the trim.
I know some people find the interior simple and ergonomic. Styling is subjective and to each their own, but my personal view is that it is plain, uninteresting and somehow dated. I’d opt for an audi or volvo interior any day (though the A3 and even the A4 aren’t as good as they should be).
Of course, I acknowledge that it is unsophisticated to knock a car on interior alone, the driving experience should be the key concern. But no matter how well it drives I still wouldn’t want to sit in one all day looking at that dash and sure as hell wouldnt pay $80K plus options for a vehicle I find aesthetically disappointing.
Why the heck are you comparing a beemer 3 series to a corolla?? You’re comparing a car that costs 80K versus a 20K car! Looks like ZoomZoom’s logic (or lack of) must be contageous… Of course the 80K car will be better in terms of engine, gearbox and suspension, and everything else Wheelbut! That’s the most retarded comment I read today!!
I agree with Blindfreddy. They really ‘bangled’ the looks. E46 was a great looking model, both inside and outside. This current model makes me wanna puke. How can a brand new car’s dash look so dated straight away? I just couldn’t bring myself to buy one, those looks repulse me.
Im not comapring the two – read my comments again and you will see that I never said the BMW kicks the Corollas arse or vice versa..
Because for what they are they do an excellent job and both are very popular in the markets in which they compete.
I merely used the Corolla and the 3 series as an example of the different approaches the two companies take in relation to designing and building a car.
If you want to then let’s compare the Corolla to another German;the VW Golf.. which [although irrelevant to the discussion] is the same price as the Corolla…
The Golf also backs up my arguement that a number of car manufacturers be it BMW VW Subaru Mitsubishi all have a more overall outlook to building a car than Toyota.
The Golfs engine is more better matched to the gearbox the steering the suspension and the braking etc.. which is why it looks handles and performs better than the Corolla
Not only that but the Corolla is Toyota’s “bread and butter” car its what their reputation for reliability etc was built on.
Yet because their rivals have adopted a more overall approach to building cars it shows how Toyota have sat on their Laurels..
I mean Only now are Toyota introducing features on their cars that the competition have had for quite some time.. again highlighting another difference in Toyotas attitude.
Remember its often easier to chase than it is to lead